From: Susan Richmond <susan@webspan.net>

Hi everyone,

In all honesty, not too much happened today. We find out Tony's getting 
Ally a ring, Richard and Nick have a talk, Tracy is selling off 
furniture again and gets a date with Gino, Gino unsucessfully tries to 
talk Carla into moving back in with him, and Danny is planning a 
surprise for Ally at her birthday party. 
That's about it, but I did really enjoy the Tracy/Jacob scenes again.
Here we go.....


                            THE CITY UPDATE
                      Thursday, November 21, 1996

TRACY'S BIG SHIP 
Starting Location: Tracy's penthouse

*Tracy is selling another piece of furniture, this time a chest of 
drawers, and the movers are taking it out the door. Tracy's check is in 
one of the mover's back pants pocket and she takes it out, giving the 
mover a pat on the butt in the process. Just as Tracy is about to shut 
the door, a delivery guy brings Tracy more flowers from Gino. Beth asks 
if they are going to be selling all the furniture. If necessary, Tracy 
says. Did Tracy get the money to pay the hotel bill from Gino? "No, I'm 
saving him for bigger and better things". Tracy remembers she has to 
thank Jacob, pulls a rose from the bouquet and leaves.

*Tracy's walking down the stairs, complaining that walking down five 
flights of stairs is quicker than using that elevator.  She runs into 
Gino, who seems happy to run into her. Tracy thanks him for the flowers 
he sent. He won't believe it, but she pulled this flower(that she has in 
her hand) out of the arrangement, thinking how great it would look in 
Gino's lapel. (She breaks off the long stem and puts it in his lapel) 
Gino has to go visit Carla, but he asks Tracy to join him later for an 
espresso downstairs. Tracy will be waiting for him.

*Gino continues up the stairs and runs into Tony coming out of Ally's 
apartment. Gino laughingly comments that Tony didn't sleep at home last 
night, and Tony tells him they need to have a talk. Gino's thrilled that 
the charges have been dropped and he owes Tony and Carla. Gino always 
wished that someday Tony and Carla would really be married. That's never 
going to happen, Tony tells him, he and Carla are geting an annulment. 
Carla wants it as much as he does, Carla wants to get on with her life. 

*Tracy sits down at the bar, calls Jacob over to her and tells him how 
handsome he looks today. "My check must have cleared, right?", asks 
Jacob cynically. Tracy knows he's expecting change from his check, but 
she needs it until her "ship comes in". What ship is she talking about, 
Jacob wants to know. "It's big, beautiful, very expensive, and it's a 
luxury liner", Tracy answers. "Like the Titanic?", Jacob asks. Tracy 
asks Jacob to just trust her. Jacob doesn't trust her, and he's not sure 
she knows what she's doing. (Jacob grabs her hand) "Jacob Foster and 
Tracy Quartermaine, from now on, are going to be *real* tight".

*What does he mean by real tight? "Let's just say from now on, I'm going 
to be your new best friend. I'm not letting you out of my sight". He's 
just protecting his investment, and he also thinks Tracy could use a 
friend. Because of her financial problems? Because of her five figure 
hotel bill, her assault and battery on Darryl Hassey (AKA the collection 
guy), Jacob replies. You saw what happened and you know it was an 
accident, Tracy insists. Tracy's also selling Sydney's furniture, Jacob 
reminds her. Jacob recommends she stop, before these little 
embarrassments turn into a string of felonys. Why won't Tracy just tell 
him what is going on? It's none of Jacob's concern, Tracy responds. 
Tracy thanked him for the money and will repay him, that's all she owes 
him. What would have happened if Jacob hadn't come along and payed the 
hotel bill when he did, Jacob asks. "Tracy Quartermaine solves her own 
problems", she tell him. Jacob's money solved her problems yesterday, 
Jacob reminds her. Tracy tells Jacob he's been had, that the whole thing 
was a set-up, Darryl Hassey was in on the whole thing from the 
beginning.  Jacob just stares at her, but Tracy laughs "the laugh" and 
tells him that she's just joking. "Takes a con to know one", Jacob tells 
her. He was playing her for a fool, the check's no good. Tracy looks 
devistated. "Gottcha", says Jacob, who was just kidding, too. Lorraine 
joins them at the bar to ask Jacob for her job back. He agrees and tells 
her that Tracy could use a reading right now, she has all these pent-up
secrets inside. Jacob brings out Lorraine's tarot cards and puts them on 
the bar.

*Lorraine is reading Tracy's cards at one of the tables. Recent 
upheaval, travel, movement, Lorraine says, flipping over one of the 
cards. "Any big ships in the picture?", Jacob calls out from his seat at 
the bar. Tracy's been through a transition period, Lorraine continues. 
Here's a man from your past, ruthless, powerful, dominating. "Sounds 
very familiar", says Tracy. King of cups, reversed, a man like no one 
she's ever met before, but it's not a love match. Lorraine sees danger. 
(In the background, Gino walks into the bar)

*Gino walks over to Tracy and Lorraine's table. Tracy charms Gino by 
telling him that waiting for him seemed like an eternity.  Gino goes to 
get them a table and Tracy advises Lorraine to stick to good news, 
she'll make more money that way. Gino orders two espressos and they sit 
down. Gino asks Tracy to go with the opera tomorrow.  Tracy would love 
to spend time with him, but she was thinking of something a little more 
private. They'll just have a dinner for two then, Gino suggests.  "The 
pleasure is all mine", Gino tells her, kissing Tracy's hand.  Jacob, 
walking to the table with the espresso, rolls his eyes in disgust. 

PEACE OF MIND    
Location: Nick and Buck's apartment

*Nick's on the phone with a hospital, but he's not getting any answers 
because of doctor-patient confidentiality. Lorraine reminds him it 
wasn't going to be easy, and he should be resting, he just got out of 
the hospital.  There's probably a lot of people trying to call to see 
how he's doing, and Nick's hogging the phone.  The only person that 
Nick's interested in hearing from doesn't want to talk to him, Nick 
says.  There's a knock at the door, it's Richard.

*Nick is surprised to see Richard. Richard tried to call, but the line 
has been tied up. Now that Richard's there, Lorraine is going to head 
down to the City Bar to see if she still has a job there. Lorraine 
kisses Nick, then leaves. Zoey had told Richard that Nick was giving up 
on the transplant list, but she didn't say it was because Nick already 
had a copy.  Nick's not going to apologize, he tells Richard. Don't, 
Richard replies, it's Nick's life and his decision. Nick does want to 
apologize for what he said the other day. He never meant to say that he 
was disappointed in Richard. Richard knows he didn't mean it, and he 
shouldn't have yelled at Nick like he did. Nick's new at being someone's 
"old man", but he'll "get it together". He just wants Richard to know 
he's sorry for what he said. Richard says an apology's not necessary, 
"in fact, you opened up my eyes".

*Fate's a funny thing, Richard says, if his parents hadn't died in a car 
wreck, he'd probably still be living in Australia. He thought he knew 
who his parents were, where his home was, where he belonged. Nick tells 
him that his home is here now.  Richard feels that he has to go back to 
where he grew up, he's going back to Australia. Just for a visit, or for 
good, Nick asks.

*Richard's not planning to stay there for good, but he's not too sure of 
anything these days. What is Richard hoping to find? What is Nick hoping 
to find with his list, Richard asks in return.  Peace of mind, Nick 
says. Maybe he and Nick aren't so different after all, says Richard. How 
does Zoey feel about this, Nick wants to know.  She's the one who 
suggested it, she helped him make the decision. Nick wants Richard to 
know he'll be waiting when Richard comes back. And if Richard doesn't 
come back, Nick's going to pay him a visit. They shake hands and then 
hug. 

SURPRISE PLANS FOR ALLY
Location: Tony and Danny's apartment

*Carla is sitting at the counter reading the newspaper when Danny comes 
downstairs and wishes her a good morning. Carla says nothing at first, 
and then tells Danny that Tony spent the night over at Ally's. Danny's 
not surprised, now that Tony's free, did she really expect him to sleep 
in his apartment without Ally. Carla doesn't understand why Danny isn't 
more upset, after all, Tony didn't sleep alone. "After Ally gets that 
little birthday surprise I have planned for her, Tony's not going to 
know what hit him", says Danny.

*The plan's failproof, thanks to Carla's generous contribution.  Carla 
has money, she replies, what she needs is more time alone in the 
apartment with Tony. Tony and Uncle Gino come in, Gino's brought Carla 
some canoli.  Tony wants to talk to Danny, and they leave Gino and Carla 
alone to talk. Carla didn't sound too happy when she called to tell Gino 
the charges were dropped.  Carla insists that it is great news, that 
she's happy, but Gino doesn't believe her. Gino's got something that he 
thinks will make Carla happy, he tells her to pack her bags, she's 
moving back in with Gino. Carla tries to look happy with the idea.

*Carla thinks that she should move back into her own place. Gino reminds 
her that she sub-let the place, but Carla says she'll just evict them. 
Even with Gino's help, that will take weeks, he tells her. Tony doesn't 
want her living there anymore, so if she moves out today or few days 
from now, what difference does it make, Gino asks. Carla tells Gino that 
he was right when he said that he needed his own life, and if Carla 
moves in with him, she'll be interfering in that life. "You don't 
interfere", Gino says, laughing loudly. Carla tells him they both know 
that that's not true. Carla's glad he took her advice about Tracy 
Quartermaine, maybe next time he'll find someone more appropriate. Gino 
tries to tell her he's still seeing Tracy, but she cuts him off, saying 
she's learned her lesson about interfering. Gino leaves, and Carla says 
to herself, "I'm not giving up on Tony just yet".

*Tony tells Danny that he bought Ally a ring. That's a big step, 
cautions Danny, are you sure you're ready for it?  Tony's definitely 
ready.  He needs a favor from Danny. He needs Danny to keep Ally 
distracted while he goes to the jewelry store to check out the ring. 
Danny doesn't really have time tonight, he's got some work to do on the 
magazine. Danny finally agrees to take Ally out, "all in the name of 
love".

*Tony, grabbing his coat, tells Carla that he's leaving now, but he'll 
help her pack later. Carla assures him she can manage by herself and 
Tony leaves. Danny explains to Carla that he gets to "Ally-sit" tonight 
while Tony goes to pick up her present. "Oh, is he splurging on a 
personality for her", Carla asks. No, a ring, Danny says. Carla's 
worried, what if Tony gives Ally the ring before Danny can give her his 
gift.  He won't Danny assures her. 
-- 
Susan

FCC Tony
